7 TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF MORELOS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

Morelos is one of the 31 states of Mexico and is located in the south central part of the country. Its capital and most populated city is Cuernavaca, known as "the city of eternal spring" and it is one of the 33 districts that make up the state, being one of the richest regions in the country.

It has a pleasant climate, nature reserves and ancient towns full of culture. In the territory, 139 traditional festivals have been registered in more than 60 localities in a mixture of indigenous and Christian celebrations.

Within Morelos are two of Mexico's "Magical Towns", Tlayacapan and Tepoztlán. They are original towns that have an ancestral culture characterized by the production of local crafts, traditional cuisine and maintenance of heritage expressions.

As in any town rich in traditional festivals, in Morelos tourism has become part of these customs. Visiting and learning about the festivals and traditions is one of the adventures it has to offer.

The main traditions and customs of Morelos

1. Challenge to Tepozteco

The sunset of Tepoztlán is the scene, every September 8, of the Reto al Tepozteco, a theatrical representation about the change of polytheistic religion from the last Tlatoani towards Christianity.

This festival, based on a script in Nahuatl, consists of a staging where Tepoztecatl, Lord Tepozteco, was baptized by Fray Domingo de la Anunciación

Legend has it that Tepoztécatl accepted a "test of faith" from the Fray in which both threw their gods from the top of the temple.

Ometochtli, reproduced in stone, broke into a thousand pieces when it fell, and Jesus Christ, on a metal cross, was left intact.

After this change, Tepoztecatl faces the kings of Cuaunáhuac, Cuautla, Tlayacapan and Yautepec for rejecting the new god, but ends up convincing them and facilitating Spanish evangelization.

This festival remembers the union of worlds and cultures during the colony and is celebrated on the eve of the Virgin of the Nativity.

2. Seed portal

The placement of the portal or arch of seeds is also carried out in Tepoztlán, as an offering to the Virgin of the Nativity who is the Holy Patron of the town.

It consists of a giant mural of approximately 7 x 9 meters where a Tepoztecan scene is made with thousands of natural seeds that are exposed throughout the year until their renovation.

The first seed cover was made in 1991 and since then it has been prepared annually on a voluntary basis by the residents of the entity.

3. Leather killer

The Matacueros de Yecapixtla are a 480-year-old symbol of Holy Week.

Its name comes from the Nahuatl word "Matacue" and means "the one who inquires", "the one who seeks", or "the one who torments us".

The costumes present authentic works of art, due to their beauty and color, and represent local versions of the old Spanish soldiers who mistreated indigenous people during the conquest.

On Easter Saturday, specifically, these pre-Hispanic characters come out to represent the wickedness of the Spanish.

They wear a multicolored cap with stone cherries, they wear a light-colored mask, alluding to European skin, and a pointed black beard, similar to the Egyptian one.

4. Chinelos

The Chinelo jump dance is a characteristic celebration of the carnival and the patron saint festivities in the towns of Yautepec, Oaxtepec, Oacalco, Totolapan, Cualtlixco, Jojutla and Tepoztlán. The word Chinelo in Nahuatl means "one who moves his feet and hips well."

The "brincos" or dances are group dances in which you jump on the tips of your feet, place your hands on your chest and move to the rhythm of a band as they parade through the streets.

According to historical data, this jump is a representation of the pre-Hispanic Tlahuica tribe when they found their promised land after a long pilgrimage.

The traditional clothing consists of elegant velvet suits, wide and long, with multi-colored robes that cover the body.

The ornaments are colorful and full of designs with ribbons, sequins, beads or glass beads, rhinestones and feather hats.

5. Sayones

In the municipality of Tetela del Volcán, sayones are another classic of Holy Week, for 300 years, from Thursday to Easter Sunday.

They are organized in Brotherhoods to represent a very Christian scene where there are Roman soldiers or executioners, four Kings and a Judas.

Full of masks, green and yellow satin and Chinese paper in the shape of a large pompom hat, the sayones participate in processions where they stage the hanging of Judas.

But Sunday is the great festival where the hats of the sayones are burned by the residents and visitors, who set the caps of the characters on fire.

6. The jerky

When it comes to typical gastronomy, the Cecina de Yecapixtla cannot be forgotten. This meal is made up of a thin cut of beef or pork seasoned with salt and lemon that is dehydrated in the sun.

Cecina is the culinary symbol of Morelos and is served with fresh cheese and cream, salsa and onions and is eaten with handmade corn tortillas.

In Yecapixtla they have their own fair where the best cuts of meat are offered and there are also dances and theaters of the town.

7. Day of the dead

In the town of Ocotepec, north of Cuernavaca, one of the most colorful and recognized forms of altars are celebrated for the Day of the Dead.

La Cereada is celebrated between October 31 and November 2, days in which offerings are erected for the dead of the year and the graves of the cemeteries are visited by neighbors and friends of the relatives.

Many ornaments with candles, flowers, candles, skulls, confetti, frosts and objects of the deceased are scattered around the monuments.

In addition, the catrinas are also the hosts of the party and accompany the decorations in commemoration of the dead from Morelos.

References

1. Alvarado R., C. (2015). Conservation of cultural heritage in the Magical Town of Tepoztlán, Morelos (2001-2012). Territories, 32, 15-33. Recovered from edalyc.org
2. Lazcarro S., I. (2011). The Passion of Yecapixtla: On the cecina route. Cultural Supplement No. 490, the tlacuahce. Recovered from hool.inah.gob.mx
3. Machín, J. (1999). Chamucos, chinelos and calacas. Traditional festivals and youth promotion. Cedoj-Young Culture, Cáritas, Cejuv. Recovered from: aacademica.org
4. Ocotepec: Dead Day with the Zoques / David Díaz Gómes - Mexico: Unknown Mexico, 1992. pp. 43-48: retrs. In: Unknown Mexico. No. 189, November 1992
5. Wahrhaftig L., A. (2001). THE COVERS OF SEEDS: Annual and visual representations about the state of the culture of Tepoztlán, Mexico. Department of Anthropology, Sonoma State University. Recovered from docfilm.com
6. Yáñez R., D. (2015) Reyes. The Sayones. A tradition of Tetela de Volcán. Cultural supplement Nº 670, el tlacuahce,. Recovered from hool.inah.gob.mx.